Trump calls for reducing tensions in Kashmir

US President Donald Trump called for reducing tensions between Pakistan and India over Jammu and Kashmir region following the latest Indian manoeuvres to change the historical situation in the disputed area.

“Spoke to my two good friends, Prime Minister Modi of India, and Prime Minister Khan of Pakistan, regarding Trade, Strategic Partnerships and, most importantly, for India and Pakistan to work towards reducing tensions in Kashmir. A tough situation, but good conversations!” Trump wrote on his official Twitter account.

Two weeks ago, India’s government has revoked the part of the constitution that gives Indian-administered Kashmir special status in an unprecedented move which is likely to spark unrest in the disputed Muslim-majority state.

The article 370 of the Indian constitution which the Indian government revoked by a presidential decree, guaranteed special rights to the Muslim-majority region. These rights included Kashmir’s right to have its own constitution and decision-making process for all matters except defence, communications and foreign affairs.

Indian government also sent thousands of additional troops to the state, and imposed a curfew on parts of the region, as well as cutting all telecommunications and arresting political leaders. Tourists were told by the Indian authorities to leave the region.

On Monday, Pakistan said that it has not receive any notice from India regarding the drainage of one of the dams on mutual river Sutlej, which could cause floods in Pakistan.

Islamabad accused New Delhi of launching 5th generation war on it.

Kashmir, the region with a total area of some 222,200 square km, lies in the north-western Indian subcontinent. It is bounded by the Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang to the northeast and the Tibet Autonomous Region to the east (both parts of China), by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south, by Pakistan to the west, and by Afghanistan to the northwest.

The entire region has been a subject of dispute between India and Pakistan since the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 following the independence of India from the British colonialism. Each country claims Kashmir in full but control only parts of it.